Automatic controlling device for the motors of pneumatics.



J. A. WESER, DECD.

E. L- WESER. ADMINISTRATRIX.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR THE MOTORS O-F PNEUMATICS.

AUTOMATIC APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, l9l6.

' Patented June 25, 1918.

INVENTOR.

CNWM TORNEYS.

WITNESS AT lh lt 5;

JOHN A. WESER OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; ELSIE L. WESER, ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID JOHN A. WESER, DECEASED, ASSIGNOB T0 BROS. INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR THE MOTORS OF PNEUMATICfi.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 191.

Application filed June 27, 1916. Serial No. 106,098.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN A. Wnsnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan of the city of New York, in the State of New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Controlling Devices for the Motors of Pneumatics, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to devices for automatically initiating the operation of a motor for a pneumatic or air pump at a predetermined time and is concerned particularly with the provision of such a device as will be operable at predetermined periods of time for initiating operation of such a motor at fixed intervals of time. The invention is designed with particular reference to its application to the motor of an air pump intended to actuate either the pneumatics of a player piano or the pneumatics for controlling the operations of a graphophone. The desirability of having suitable automatic devices for instituting the operation of either a player piano or a graphophone at stated time intervalsand without especial manipulation on the part of the operator will be appreciated. In accordance with the invention, the time interval controlling device is of such a character as to come into play automatically at predetermined periods and close the circuit of the actuating motor for the air pump, thereby bringing about the actuation of the appropriate pneumatics for the performance of their intended functions. This device having acted automatically in the manner described is operative automatically, upon the completion of the operation of the motor for a suitable period, to interrupt the circuit of the motor at the same time that it is being reset for a succeeding operation. The automatic control described may be efiected bymany difierent devices, as will be more evident as the detailed description of the illustrated. embodiment proceeds, but it has been found in praca tice, that this illustrated embodiment is particularly adaptable to a pneumatic system for controlling the operations of a graphophone. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter in connection with the description of the accompanying drawing, which shows, somewhat schematically, a time interval playing devlce embodylng the lnvention.

The air pump (1, shown somewhat conventionally in the drawing, may be of any approved character for creating a pressure of current 7J lead to a master knife switch 0, the movable member 0 of which may be raised out of engagement with the post 0 by a delayed action pneumatic d, the conduit (5 of which is connected operatively with the main conduit a of the pump, to the end that the pneumatic may be collapsed slowly and, after the lapse of a suitable interval of time, withdraw the blade 0 from the knife switch 0 and so open the circuit of the motor.

When the blade 0" is thus raised, it is engaged by a detent e, the action of which is determined by a timing device. As shown it may be formed on a pivoted armature e of an electromagnet 7, this armature beingso disposed with relation to the magnet that when the latter is energized the detentwill be moved out of engagement with the blade 0 and the latter permitted to drop to close the circuit of the motor I). The circuit of the magnet 7 includes a source of power, such as a battery 9 and the leads are connected at their ends to two switch members it and a, respectively. One of these terminals 2' is carried on the movable member of a pneumatic k, the conduit 72 of which may be operatively connected to the pump a for the collapse of the pneumatic wheneverthe pump is operated. The other terminal h of differential throughout the penumatic system, when operated by the illustrated motor the leads of the magnets f is formed convenbetween its edge and the terminal 2' can be "playinglof arecord or records.

changed readily by theo'perator for a reason which will appear.

In op'e'ratiomit maybe supposed that it is desired to operate the pump a at predetermined time intervals for the carrying on of some series of operations by means of the Pneumatics connected in the pneumatic system with the pump. For instance, where thepump a' is the source of power in a pneumatic system for controlling the operations of a graphophone, it might be'desired to have these operations repeated at stated intervals of time to initiate successively the The operatonmay determine'the interval of time which he desires between these playing operations and set the eccentric 71 with its edge in; such relation to the terminal'z' on the movingmember of the pneumatic is; as to require the, elapse of such interval of time during the slow" expanding of the pneumatic late; a point where the moving terminal i will becarriedinto engagement with the edge ofthe eccentric 71, and thereby completewthe circuit of the electromagnet. This setting of-the' eccentric It may be arranged for; conveniently. .asby mounting on its shaft h: aYpointer k which; may move over the face of-a scale graduated appropriately into time units- With" the-eccentric thus set, the motor'b may be started in any convenient manner, asby manual relase of the detent e, whereupon: thepump a willact to bring about, :at the proper time, the complete collapse, of the pneumatic d and retraction of the -switch blade c for the interruption of thecircuit of the motor I), whereupon the pump-a will stop. The time of operation of-this-pnmp' is sufiiciently long to effect its intendedfunction. Of course, immediately uponrthe'actuation' of' the pump the pneumatic' will be; collapsed. This pneumatic has ajbleednip 'i'le-10 of such proportions as to causea relatively slowjexpan'ding of the pneumatic after'the actuationof the-pump wahas been stopped. However, the pneumatic? will steadily expand and eventually carry:the-movableterminal 2' into electrical engagement-with the edge ofthe eccentric h, thereby: energizingthe; magnets f and cansingiltheattractionofthe-armature e and release'of'the switch-blade c, by the detent e. The switch '0', will then-drop so as to close theacireuit ofthe'motor b and thereby initiate "-operation ofthe pump a. Theoperations describedwill then be repeated and'so,

'bytdeterminingtlie relative position of the edge of the eccentric h with relation to the moving terminal 2', any" desired interval of time may be permitted to elapse between the successive playing of a record or recordsywher'e the-improvements are applied to-a 'graphophone.

Along a portion of the edge of the eccentric h there'may be secured an insulating strip it andthis strip may be moved, by movement of the eccentric, to a position where it-will be engaged by the moving terminal '2', as may be desirable when the automatic time interval devices are not to be employed.

As suggested hereinbefore, the appended drawing is intended merely to illustrate, somewhat schematically, suitable devices for accomplishing the desired automatic control of an air pump ina pneumatic system supposed to be associated with suitable controlling pneumatics for the operations of a graphophone. Where the invention is used in association with an air motor intended to eflect the control of pneumatics for other purposes, as in a player piano, it may be necessary. to change the details of constructionof various of the elements and their relative disposition to one another. Further, even where the stated functions are to be accomplished in connection with the control of a graphophone many changes may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art. However, in practice, where the system is entirely'pneumatic in character, it'has been found convenient to connect some such pneumatic as is shown at is directly to the pump a for initiating time interval playing, operations.

The scope of the invention will appear from the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combinationv with an air pump, an electric driving motor therefor, a' switch to control the motor, means to open the switch, devices opera'ble automatically to initiate the closing of the switch after a definitelapse ofltime and means to control the time interva 2. In combination with an-air pump, an electric driving motor therefor, a switch'to control the motor, means operated by the pump to open the switch, devices operable automatically to initiate the closin of the switch after a definite lapse of tune and means to control the time interval.

3. In combination with an air pump, an electric driving motor therefor, a switch to control the motor, a pneumatic connected pump to open the switch, a pneumatic connected withthe pump and devices operable automatically by said pneumatic to initiate the closing of the switch.

5. Incombination with an air pump, an electric driving motor therefor, a switch to control the motor, means operated by the pump to open the switch, a pneumatic connected with the pump and having retarded expansion and electromagnetic devices controlled by said pneumatic to initiate the closing of the switch.

6. In combination with an air pump, an electric driving motor therefor, a controlling switch for the motor including a movable member, a pneumatic connected operatively to the pump and having its movalble member operatively connected to the movable mem-- ber of the switch for controlling the latter, electromagnetic devices to control the position of the said movable switch member and devices operable automatically for initiating operation of the electromagnetic devices.

7. In combination with an air pump,'an electric driving motor therefor, a controlling switch for the motor, a detent to hold the switch in inactive position, electromagnetic devices for controlling the detent, terminals for the circuit-of the electromagnets and a pneumatic connected to the pump on the movable member of which one of said terminals is carried, the other terminal be ing relatively stationary, whereby upon expansion of the pneumatic the terminals are brought into engagement with one another.

8. In combination with an air pump, an electric driving motor therefor, a control ling switch. for the motor, including a movable member, a pneumatic operatively connected with the pump and the movable memher to break the circuit when the pump is actuated, a detent to hold the switch open, electromagnetic devices to control the detent having terminals, and a second pneumatic connected to the pump and on the movable member of which is carried one of said terminals, the other of said terminals being adjustable with respect to the first named terminal.

This specification signed this 23d day of June, A. D. 1916.

JOHN A. WESER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 10. U. 

